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Stress

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First and foremost, I would like to thank God Almighty for giving me the

strength, knowledge, ability and opportunity to undertake this project.

This project’s completion was made possible through the collective support

and guidance of various individuals and resources, and I am grateful for their

contributions.

I would like to express my special thanks of gratitude to my teacher,

Sangeetha Meghul ma’am as well as our principal, Madonna James ma’am,

who gave me the golden opportunity to do this wonderful project.

Lastly, I would like to thank my parents, friends and all my supporters who

has motivated me to fulfill this project before the timeline.

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INDEX

S. TOPIC PG
NO. NO.

Student Particulars 5
1
Introduction
a) Objective
6
b) Case Study
2 c) Stress
Case Profile
a) Case Summary
b) Identification of Data 12
c) Consent Form
d) Case History
3 e) Present Complaints
Techniques Used
a) Interview
17
b) Observation
4 c) Psychological Test

Evaluation and Conclusion 23


5

Recommendations 24
6

Bibliography 25
7

Scoring Sheet 26
8

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STRESS

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STUDENT PARTICULARS

Name: Nivedita Sailesh


Class: 12
Section: A
School: Wise Indian Academy, Ajman
Academic year: 2023 - 2024
Project title: Psychological Well-Being
Teacher: Sangeetha Meghul

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INTRODUCTION

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OBJECTIVE OF PROJECT:
To determine the level of stress in the subject.

CASE STUDY
A case study is a type of research method concerned with the in-depth study of the life of a
social unit.
Research is a systematic attempt to obtain answers to meaningful questions about a
phenomenon or event through the application of scientific methods. The process of
conducting research includes many steps:
1. Identification of a Problem
The process of research begins with the researcher choosing a topic of study that is very
specific and concise.

2. Review of Literature
Past research, observations, and personal experiences are then reviewed.

3. Formulation of Hypothesis
Hypothesis is an intelligent guess or a tentative statement about the possible relation
between variables.

4. Collection of Data
Data collection includes making a blueprint of the entire study. This includes selecting the
population, the method of data collection, research tools, etc.

5. Analysis of Data
This step involves the detailed understanding of the collected data by using statistical
methods. The purpose is to verify a hypothesis.

6. Conclusion
This step includes either the acceptance or rejection of the hypothesis. If the hypothesis is
false, then it is revised, or an alternative theory is proposed.
A case study is a type of research method that explores and analyses a particular social unit,
i.e., a person, an institution, a country, etc. For a case study regarding an individual, the
collection of data begins from the prenatal period. It is, therefore, a very detailed study or
research method.

Techniques Used in Case Study

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It involves the use of qualitative and quantitative methods. Data for a case study can be
collected through observation, past literature/documents, interviews, psychological test results,
and many more.
- Observation: Systematic observation of a subject and recording the data for later analysis.
- Surveys/Questionnaires: These tools help in attaining the opinions of the subjects and in
comparing the answers.
- Interview: A structured conversation where the interviewer asks questions to the interviewee
to better understand their perspective.
- Psychological Tests: A standardized and objective instrument which is used to assess an
individual’s standing in relation to others based on their psychological traits.

Advantages of Case Study


- Case studies help in detail and in-depth analysis of a social unit. This can be essential when
it comes to learning about cultural, social, historical, and psychological influences.
- It helps in proposing hypotheses that can be later added onto by other researchers. Hence, it
fosters themes for future research.
- It provides evidence to support an already existing hypothesis or other psychological
theories.
- It evaluates phenomena that occur naturally in real-time that may be difficult to recreate in a
laboratory setting.

Disadvantages of Case Study


- Case studies are highly subjective. It relies heavily on the researcher’s interpretation of the
data obtained from the research.
- It has limited validity and reliability because its results cannot be generalised.
- It is a time-consuming method due to the duration of the data collection and analysis.

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STRESS
Stress is defined as a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation.
It is the pattern of responses an organism makes to a stimulus event that disturbs one’s
equilibrium and exceeds a person’s ability to cope.
Although stress is a normal response and an optimum level of stress can fuel one’s
motivation, prolonged and intense stress can cause adverse effects on one’s body and mind.
Stress is a universal experience. We all experience stress, however the intensity and the way
we respond to stress is unique.
Stress is most prevalent in new and unexpected situations that threaten our sense of
self. We may feel like we have no control over the situation. During such times, our body
produces hormones that trigger a fight or flight response. Many bodily functions come
together to respond to a stressor.

Stress is generally of two types:


1. Eustress: This type of stress includes levels of stress that is good for you and helps to
achieve peak performance.

2. Distress: This type of stress includes levels of stress that is bad for you and can cause the
wear and tear of one’s body.
Over the years, many scientists, researchers, and psychologists have attempted to
understand the root causes of stress and the process by which we experience stress. The most
renowned assumptions of how stress is felt and expressed include three theories: Cognitive
Theory of Stress by Lazarus and General Adaptative Syndrome Theory (GAS Theory) by
Hans Selye.

1. Cognitive Theory of Stress

The Cognitive Theory of Stress was proposed by Lazarus and was popularly referred to as the
‘Theory of Appraisal’. Lazarus claimed that an individual’s response in a stressful situation
largely depends on the perceived events and how they are interpreted.

It suggests that it is not the stressor that matters, but the appraisal or evaluation of the stressor
that matters. He introduced two types of appraisals:

> Primary appraisal: This type of appraisal involved the evaluation of the stimuli. The individual
decided whether the stimuli was harmful, threatening, or challenging. It is the perception of the
new and changing environment.

> Secondary appraisal: This type of appraisal involved the assessment of one’s coping abilities
and resources and whether they will be sufficient to meet the stressor. It is the evaluation of

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oneself.

These appraisals determine our cognitive, behavioural, emotional and physiological responses to
external events.

2. General Adaptative Syndrome Theory

The General Adaptative Syndrome Theory was proposed by Hans Selye. He claimed that when
one faces a stressor, their body undergoes three stages of responses.

> Alarm Reaction Stage: The presence of the stressor leads to the activation of the pituitary-
cortex system. In this stage, the body is merely preparing to cope with the stressor. The activity
of the sympathetic nervous system and the adrenal gland increases.

> Resistance Stage: During this stage, the body becomes resistant to the stressor due to the
prolonged presence of the stressor. The para-sympathetic nervous system is activated, and the
body makes efforts to cope with the stressor.

> Exhaustion Stage: The continuous exposure to the stressor will tire the body and can
eventually lead to stress-related diseases.

This theory was criticised due to its increased focus on the physiological aspect of stress which
left no space for its psychological aspects.

Causes of Stress
Some common causes of stress include:
o Being in uncomfortable situations
o Having complicated relationships
o Conflicts among loved ones
o Overwhelming responsibilities
o Having less or no control over a situation
o Changes in environments
o Discrimination, bullying, hate crimes
o Being under pressure to achieve something
o Deadlines that are difficult to keep up with
o Peer pressure or family pressure
o Loss of loved ones
o Unemployment or other economic issues
o Providing for one’s family

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Symptoms of stress:

o Easily irritated or angry


o Anxious and afraid
o Difficulty breathing
o Panic attacks
o Unstable sleep schedules
o Body aches
o Fatigue and migraines
o Indigestion or heartburn
o Feeling sick and dizzy
o Disturbed eating patterns
o Sweating
o Unstable menstrual cycle
o Suicidal thoughts, in severe cases

Treatment strategies:

Treatment strategies for high levels of stress include medication and psychotherapy.

1. Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is a voluntary relationship between the one seeking treatment (client) and
the one who provides it (therapist). To treat or learn to manage high levels of stress, one may
choose Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Behavioural therapy, Exposure therapy or
Group therapy. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy addresses both your thought patterns and
behaviour. It is a short and efficacious treatment technique for many psychological disorders.
Behavioural therapy, however, focuses on altering malfunctioning behaviour. Exposure
therapy attempts to recreate real-life situations or making the subject go through a real-life
situation in order to treat themselves.

2. Medication
o Benzodiazepines: Tranquilizer medications used for calming the patient. It enhances
the action of gamma-aminobutyric acid that helps in relaxing the body.
o Beta-blockers: Medication that controls the fight-or-flight response of the body by
blocking nerve-impulses.
o SSRIs: Medication used to treat anxiety and depression. It reduces the reuptake of
serotonin.
o Pregabalin: It is administered if the patient does not respond to antidepressants or
benzodiazepines.

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CASE PROFILE

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CASE SUMMARY

The subject is a student at St. Stephen’s College, Delhi. I assessed her psychological well-
being, stress levels and adjustment using psychological tests.
She was well-adjusted and showed support during the tests. She was an ideal subject and
was attentive to all the instructions. She was keen to take part in the tests and clarified her
doubts during the tests. She attended all the psychological tests genuinely and was
immensely supportive during the entire process.
According to the test results, she has moderate psychological well-being, very high stress
levels and average to very unsatisfactory adjustment.
She enjoys spending time with loved ones. She pursues hobbies such as reading, listening
to music, and learning the violin. She is a thoughtful and genuine person who values
emotional connections.

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IDENTIFICATION OF DATA

Demographic details:
i. Name: J. S.
ii. Age: 19
iii. Gender: Female
iv. Date of Birth: 15/10/2004
v. Occupation: Student
vi. College: St. Stephen’s College

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CONSENT FORM

PSYCHOLOGY INFORMED CONSENT FORM

I, J. S., hereby consent to attend the psychological tests conducted by Nivedita


Sailesh as a part of her project work. I understand the purpose of the study and
its possible benefits. I voluntarily participate in this study.
I am 19 years old.
Name of participant: J. S.
Age: 19

(Signature of Participant)

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CASE HISTORY
a) Socio-economic status
i. Father’s occupation: Translation
ii. Mother’s occupation: Translation
iii. Religion: Christian
iv. Mother Tongue: Tamil
v. Siblings: 1
vi. Birth order: Second child
vii. Type of housing: Apartment
viii. Family type: Nuclear
ix. Number of members in family: 5
x. Adjustment in family: Moderately adjusted

b) Physical health
i. Height: 151 cm
ii. Weight: 52 kg
iii. Any known illness: None
iv. Disability: None

c) Previous counselling
i. Any counselling in the past: No
ii. Attitude towards counselling: Positive
iii. Motivation to seek help: Positive

PRESENT COMPLAINTS
Subject experiences high levels of stress and discomfort in pressuring situations. She
also has physical symptoms due to stress.

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TECHNIQUES USED

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1. INTERVIEW
An interview is a purposeful activity conducted to derive factual information,
opinions, and attitudes and reasons for particular behaviour from the respondents.
Types of interviews include structured/standardised interviews, unstructured/non-
standardised interviews, and interview classification based on the combination of
participants (individual to individual, individual to group, group to individual, group to
group).
a. Structured/Standardised interviews: A structured interview is one where the questions
are planned beforehand and are written in a sequence. The interviewer has little to no
liberty.
b. Unstructured/Non-standardised interview: In an unstructured interview, the
interviewer has the flexibility to take decisions.

INTERVIEW REPORT

Interviewer: Nivedita Sailesh


Interviewee: J. S.

1. Would you say that you have high levels of stress generally?
Yes, I think I do have high levels of stress. I have been in multiple situations where I have
been unable to control my train of thought and have ended up being overwhelmed. I do
believe that I tend to overthink the outcomes and be too self-conscious which can result in
me being stressed.

2. What would a typical stressful situation look like for you? How would it
make you feel?
Generally, I get stressed in crowded places or when I have too much attention. I guess I get
self-conscious when everyone looks at me. When I’m presenting something, everyone is
bound to look at me, but that also makes me feel anxious. My heart would start beating
really fast, it feels like it would pop right out of my chest. Sometimes, I get dizzy, or I have
to drink water to calm down. When it gets too unbearable, I often have to excuse myself.

3. What do you think is the most significant source of stress in your life?
Would you say it's similar for most students your age?
The most significant source of stress would be people, in general. I am someone who always
finds it necessary to please others. I often need to be validated by others and I think that
stresses me out. Social situations where I will be judged are also nerve-wrecking.
Yes, I think it’s similar for others too. In this day and age, social media has made us self-

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conscious, so I think everyone expects themselves to be perfect in a way. I think we
unintentionally pressure ourselves to be an ideal version of ourselves which can be
demotivating and overwhelming.

4. Do you normally tend to have physical side effects due to stressful


situations? If yes, what symptoms do you often observe in yourself?
Yes, I do tend to have physical side-effects. My heartbeats increase, headaches or chills in
spine and sometimes, I get dizzy. I haven’t fainted but I do sometimes lose balance which
requires me to take a breather and sit down. These symptoms may also require me to excuse
myself from the situation until I feel alright to continue.

5. How do you cope with overwhelming stressors or responsibilities? Do you


think you cope in an adaptive manner or in an unhealthy manner?
I cope in an unhealthy manner, I believe. Most of my stress stems from unhealthy habits or
patterns of thinking. Habits like procrastinating tasks until the last minute and unhealthy
thoughts that lower my self-esteem are the sole causes of my stress, but otherwise, I believe I
am quite alright when it comes to coping with the stress.

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2. OBSERVATION

This method deals with the systematic observation of a subject and recording data for
later analysis. The steps in the observational method includes: Selection of phenomena,
recording data, analysis of data and interpretation. The different types of observational
techniques are:
a. Participant observation: The observer becomes part of the group being observed.
b. Non-participant observation: The observer observes without disturbing the natural
phenomena.
c. Naturalistic observation: When observations are done in natural or real-life
settings.
d. Controlled observation: These observations are done in controlled laboratory
environments.

OBSERVATION REPORT

The subject was calm and composed during the process. She volunteered for her stress levels
being tested. She was cooperative during the administration of the psychological test and
responded honestly and positively. She expressed genuine interest in the case study and was
cooperative.

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3. PSYCHOLOGICAL TEST

A psychological test is a standardized and objective instrument which is used to assess an


individual’s standing in relation to others based on their psychological traits.

Student Stress Scale


The Student Stress Scale has been developed to check for the major kinds of stress
prevalent in an adolescent's life. The questions are diverse, so they cover all kinds of
situations. The prepared questionnaire provided a five-point scaling system i.e., the
questionnaire came along with five options which indicated the intensity of the occurrence
dealt with in the question. These options are scored from one to five starting from Never so
that a large sum shows the higher occurrence of a stressor.

There are 51 items in the Student Stress Scale, and each has been provided with 5 options,
which are Always, Often, Sometimes, Rarely and Never. These five options have been
scored to get a mathematical result from the test.

Scoring

The five-point rating scale has been followed and hence starting from Never to Always
score is given from 1-5. So that the strength of the indicator i.e., its high occurrence is shown
by a large sum and vice versa. There are some negative items which have been scored from
Never up to Always which is given 5- 1. The maximum score on the Student Stress Scale
would be 255 and minimum 51. Therefore, the range of the Student Stress Scale is 51-255.

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RESULTS
Table indicating scores of the subject in the Student Stress Scale and its interpretation.

Raw Score Percentile Interpretation

Very high
200 P85
stress

The table above shows the scores the subject scored on the Student Stress Scale. The
subject’s responses added up to a score of 200. The score corresponds to percentile – P85.
The percentile indicates very high stress according to the Student Stress Scale manual.

DISCUSSION
The aim of the Student Stress Scale is to measure the subject’s stress levels.
The subject’s responses added up to a score of 200, corresponding to very high stress
levels.
Stress is a state of worry or tension caused by a difficult situation. A person with high-
stress levels finds it difficult to cope with unexpected stressors experienced in daily life.
They are easily affected by hassles or minor inconveniences. They might also have somatic
symptoms due to their stress levels that can manifest in the form of migraines, body aches,
tiredness, dizziness, etc. They are unable to stay calm during stressful situations and get
easily overwhelmed.
They can also get anxious during social situations and can be greatly affected by deadlines.
They are unable to focus, and they get agitated quickly during periods of stress.

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EVALUATION AND CONCLUSION

The aim of this case study was to assess the stress levels of the subject. I
employed multiple methods like interview, observation, and the administration of
a psychological test to come to the following conclusions.
The interview with the subject revealed how the subject feels in social or
generally stressful situations. While conducting the interview, it was apparent
that the subject had stress levels which were above average. She also expressed
complaints of having stress affect her performance.
I observed the subject during the interview and during situations she felt
stressed in. There were physical symptoms that rose because of her stress levels
like feeling nauseous, frequent headaches, etc.
In the psychological test (Student Stress Scale), she scored 200 that suggests
that she has very high stress levels.
To conclude, my subject has very high levels of stress that tends to affect her
day-to-day performance.

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RECOMMENDATIONS

Some ways to manage stress are:

o Practising mindful activities


o Adopting healthy habits
o Engaging in friendly conversations
o Managing your time efficiently
o Being assertive
o Meditating or practising relaxation techniques
o Cognitive Behavioural Techniques
o Exercising and looking after your physical health
o Avoiding drug usage to reduce stress
o Seeking help when situations get out of hand
o Taking medication at prescribed times regularly, etc.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Mind. “Causes of Stress.” Www.mind.org.uk, Nov. 2017,


www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-
problems/stress/causes-of-stress/.

“Stress.” Www.who.int, 21 Feb. 2023, www.who.int/news-room/questions-


and-answers/item/stress#:~:text=What.

Cleveland Clinic. “What Is Stress? Symptoms, Signs & More.” Cleveland


Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, 28 Jan. 2021,
my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/11874-stress.

Mental Health Foundation. “Stress.” Www.mentalhealth.org.uk, 17 Sept.


2021, www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/a-z-topics/stress.

Cherry, Kendra. “The James-Lange Theory of Emotion.” Verywell Mind, 20


Oct. 2022, www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-james-lange-theory-of-
emotion-2795305.

Fletcher, Jenna. “Cannon-Bard Theory of Emotion: Basic Principles.” Psych


Central, 5 Nov. 2021, psychcentral.com/health/cannon-bard-theory-of-
emotions#what-it-is.

McLeod, Saul. “Schachter-Singer Two-Factor Theory of Emotion.”


SImplyPsychology, 3 Oct. 2023, www.simplypsychology.org/schachter-singer-
theory.html.

---. “The Schachter-Singer Two-Factor Theory of Emotion.” Verywell Mind,


Verywellmind, 30 Sept. 2019, www.verywellmind.com/the-two-factor-theory-
of-emotion-2795718.

Sincero, Sarah Mae. “Psychological Theories of Stress - James-Lange,


Cannon-Bard.” Explorable.com, explorable.com/psychological-theories-of-
stress#:~:text=The.

Surachman, Agus, and David M. Almeida. “Stress and Coping Theory across
the Adult Lifespan.” Oxford Research Encyclopedias,
oxfordre.com/psychology/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780190236557.001.0001/
acrefore-9780190236557-e-341. Accessed 30 July 2018.

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SCORING SHEET

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